State Assembly member Teresa Sayward reflects on her service

WILLSBORO -- Teresa Sayward, R-Willsboro, is retiring from the state Assembly after representing the 113th District, including northern Saratoga County, for 10 years.

She will leave office on Dec. 31, succeeded by former Queensbury Supervisor Dan Stec, who was elected to fill her position in November.

Until joining the Assembly, Sayward was Willsboro town supervisor for 11 years and chaired the Essex County Board of Supervisors for two of those years.

She and her husband, Kenneth, ran a large dairy farm for many years.

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In the Assembly, she is the ranking minority member on the Environmental Conservation Committee. She is also on the education, corrections and children and families committees and is vice chair of the Assembly Minority Small Business Task Force.

In addition, Sayward is on Assembly minority task forces for agriculture and hunting and fishing; legislative commissions on dairy, and solid waste; and the Assembly minority exploratory commission on alleviating the burden of school property tax.

Recently, she took time to reflect on her decade in the state Assembly.

Q: What will you miss most after 10 years in the New York State Assembly?

A: I will miss the people and my staff the most. I have interacted with many wonderful people during the time I served in the Assembly. My colleagues from all over the state, the district and yes, even the press will be missed. I have the most compassionate and smart staff in New York state. They have become like family to me.

Q: What will you miss least?

A: Without a doubt, I will miss the politics of government the least. There should be more bipartisan work done without the next election being the driving force of the votes taken.

Q: What were your major accomplishments, both in your district and statewide?

A: For me, the gay marriage vote will be one of the most rewarding events in my term as assemblywoman. I worked with Assemblyman (Robert) Sweeney on the Invasive Species Bill that is now law. I saw first passage on a constitutional amendment that I have worked on for 10 years to resolve a 100-year-old property issue in Hamilton County. The amendment will be introduced for passage again in 2013. If passed, the amendment will be up for vote in November of 2013. I got first passage on another constitutional amendment for a mining company to extract ore under a 200-acre piece of state land. That amendment will also have to be introduced again in 2013.

Q: What unfinished business are you leaving behind?

A: Amendments, which I will still track on my own time -- and unpaid, I will add. Although there is much left to be done, I am confident Assemblyman-elect (Dan) Stec will represent the district well.

Q: What issues specifically related to your district and the Adirondacks concern you?

A: My concern is always with the purchase of more land in the Adirondacks that is classified forest preserve. Access to state land is essential to the vitality of the local communities. By access, I don't mean access only to those who can walk for 10 miles carrying a canoe or kayak. We need to get people closer to our rivers and streams on existing roads.

Q: If a constitutional amendment is approved allowing for casino gambling, where should they be located -- racetracks only, or elsewhere, too? Is Lake George a good fit?

A: I am opposed to gambling. I believe gambling increases local government costs. More police are often needed because of additional traffic, drinking at casinos and/or fighting. There is also evidence that the people that gamble are those that can afford it least. More social problems and more county spending. If a community has gambling, they should make sure they get host benefits from the company that owns the facilities.

Having said that, the people of New York state will vote on this issue. If gambling is approved, the communities should decide if gambling is appropriate for them, not the state. The people of Lake George will have to make that decision should gambling be allowed in New York state.

Q: Ten years later, how is state government different?

A: When I first took office, an on time budget was a joke! There was little information shared with the legislature and little to no input in the process. Under Governor (Andrew) Cuomo, we have had on-time budgets with conference committees where revenues and appropriations are discussed. Governor Cuomo is a strong leader, and I believe that is what it takes to reach consensus. I don't believe we would have seen the gay marriage bill pass under any of the other administrations.

Q: Can a Republican get things done in the Democratic-controlled Assembly?

A: Yes, any elected official can get things done if they are willing to work with everyone. Partisan politics is not good government. I have always been able to work with Democrats as well as Republicans. When I needed someone to get one of my bills to the floor, I almost always had help. I believe I have accomplished a lot because of this.

Q: What was the biggest thing you had to learn going from local to state government?

A: The biggest thing I learned was that I was no longer representing just Essex County. New York state is a large, diverse state, and what the people of Brooklyn need is not necessarily what is needed in the North Country. You must be supportive of issues that do nothing to help (or hurt) your own district. When you learn that, you are able to get what your district needs by working closely to make the more populated areas understand your needs, and sometimes to convince them that their bill will hurt your district.

Q: There's a perception that partisanship keeps many things from getting done in the Legislature. How true is that?

A: That is true! We all talk about mandate relief, but getting it done is nearly impossible. The toughest mandates would take changing many things that the largest unions find important. Typically, the Democrats support the unions, and the Republicans not so much. This is just one small example.

Q: Why are you retiring? What will you be doing?

A: I have been in public service for over 30 years. I started in Willsboro on the Zoning Board of Appeals; moved to supervisor/county supervisor and then to the Assembly. I believe I have served the public well. Now it is time for my family. I want to spend more time with my children, grandchildren and my husband. I want to travel, see the national parks and go back to Europe. I will keep my fingers in Adirondack issues and volunteer in some fashion. I am an avid gardener and my garden will be bigger.